Improved TV rating for Edmonton IndyCar race
The 80-lap race on the 2.224-mile, 13-turn circuit won by Will Power registered a 0.60 'final' rating — the highest-rated IZOD IndyCar Series race on VERSUS this season, and up from last year's final rating of 0.31.
Through seven races, VERSUS has seen a 25 percent ratings increase over its 2010 season average. It will televise the Honda Indy 200 at 2 p.m. (ET) Aug. 7.
"While I'm excited as we all are to see it I'm not surprised by it," said Robby Greene, president and COO of IMS Productions. "We have a fantastic product that gets better each week.
"From the support and leadership we receive from VERSUS through the strategic thinking of our producers and directors to the hardest-working group of professionals in the business actually making it happen on the course, we have an unbelievable opportunity here.
"While this does represent our highest rating thus far, we are seeing the signs regularly that growth is happening and an explosion is imminent. New sponsors, new cars, new tracks and promoters mixed with the fastest and most versatile seat in motor sports, what doesn't spell growth in that formula?"
07/25/11 Edmonton race draws improved rating on VERSUS: Overnight ratings for VERSUS' broadcast of the Edmonton on July 24 were the third-highest ever for an IZOD IndyCar Series race on the network in the 56 metered markets.
The 80-lap race on the 2.224-mile, 13-turn Edmonton City Centre Airport street circuit won by Will Power registered a 0.39 rating, up 25.8% from last year's final rating of 0.31. Through seven races, VERSUS has seen a 25 percent ratings increase over its 2010 season average.
[Editor's Note: Regardless of the increase, IndyCar cannot effectively grow their sponsorship base with 0.39 cable TV rating numbers. With their new TV deal now being negotiated, IndyCar needs to move 50% of its races to network TV and that network needs to be NBC. Why NBC? Because then there can be effective cross-promotion between NBC and Versus (soon to be NBC Sports).]